History: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union that started in 1903 by the merging of the Team Drivers International Union and the Teamsters National Union. The American Federation of Labor had helped form local and regional unions of teamsters starting in 1887. Eventually on 1904, the AFL merged with the Team Drivers International Union to form the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with their first president being Cornelius Shea. Although the union was quite decentralized, they union was crucial to the labor movement. Many saw the union as corrupt because by going on strike, the union could completely stop the transportation of goods and bring about other strikes in the country. They were also considered corruptive because the union could demand bribes in order to avoid strikes. In addition, when teamsters took local control, significant revenue could be feasible by organized crime. The strongest Teamster centers in the start of the 20th century were located in Boston, New York City, Chicago, and St. Louis. A teamsters work was unpleasant and jobs were insecure. They usually worked about 12-18 hours a day, seven days a week, and received an average of $2.00 per day. At first the teamsters were not recognized, but eventually an increase of membership brought much revenue and reward. The new members included milk wagon drivers, deliverymen for bakeries, gravel haulers and beer wagon drivers. As the teamsters became more popular, their confidence increased and hence they started winning strikes which helped reduce hours and increase their pay. Their leadership also effected issues racial and gender issues, such as emphasizing the importance of women in organizations. Because they valued social justice, they became one of the most diverse organizations in the country.
The Depression: The drastic change in the economy hit the teamsters hard in 1930. By 1933, the union hit an all time membership low. In response to the crash, the teamsters decided to reorganize and promote the over-the-road truck industry. The objective was to control truck terminals, and by their extreme organization and efficiency, they increased the membership to about 146,000. The teamsters admired FDR since he initiated reforms for working families and also because he launched many social reform programs that would help pull the US out of the depression. By World War II, the Teamsters were one of the most powerful unions in the country. The teamsters also played a significant role in the Allies victory. The National Conference of Teamsters was established to help the economic and military crisis the US faced. The group of teamsters collected military supplies and gathered more than $2 million in war bonds during the first year and a half of war. They also served in battle, in almost every branch of armed forces.
Impact Today: The Teamsters Union continues to have a significant impact on the world today, mostly in Canada and the United States, as it is one of the largest labor unions in the world. In 2005, the Union had 1.5 million members, consisting of mostly truck drivers. The diverse union mainly supports Democratic candidates and since 1990 they have donated about 92% of their $25,000,000 in contributions to the Democratic party. The Teamsters Union continues to have a great contribution to industrialization, transportation and social justices. Recently their main issues have dealt with the fight for fair trade, universal health care, and a stronger middle class. They believe the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing each day, and they hope to bring more and more people into the middle class. The Teamsters Union strives to live out the American Dream, as they continue to attempt to shape many social and economic trends in the world and fight for an equal voice and influence in all working families. They work with the same spirit and determination that their founders had decades ago, and hope this passion remains for the future.
History:
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union that started in 1903 by the merging of the Team Drivers International Union and the Teamsters National Union. The American Federation of Labor had helped form local and regional unions of teamsters starting in 1887. Eventually on 1904, the AFL merged with the Team Drivers International Union to form the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with their first president being Cornelius Shea. Although the union was quite decentralized, they union was crucial to the labor movement. Many saw the union as corrupt because by going on strike, the union could completely stop the transportation of goods and bring about other strikes in the country. They were also considered corruptive because the union could demand bribes in order to avoid strikes. In addition, when teamsters took local control, significant revenue could be feasible by organized crime. The strongest Teamster centers in the start of the 20th century were located in Boston, New York City, Chicago, and St. Louis.
A teamsters work was unpleasant and jobs were insecure. They usually worked about 12-18 hours a day, seven days a week, and received an average of $2.00 per day. At first the teamsters were not recognized, but eventually an increase of membership brought much revenue and reward. The new members included milk wagon drivers, deliverymen for bakeries, gravel haulers and beer wagon drivers. As the teamsters became more popular, their confidence increased and hence they started winning strikes which helped reduce hours and increase their pay. Their leadership also effected issues racial and gender issues, such as emphasizing the importance of women in organizations. Because they valued social justice, they became one of the most diverse organizations in the country.
The Depression:
The drastic change in the economy hit the teamsters hard in 1930. By 1933, the union hit an all time membership low. In response to the crash, the teamsters decided to reorganize and promote the over-the-road truck industry. The objective was to control truck terminals, and by their extreme organization and efficiency, they increased the membership to about 146,000. The teamsters admired FDR since he initiated reforms for working families and also because he launched many social reform programs that would help pull the US out of the depression. By World War II, the Teamsters were one of the most powerful unions in the country. The teamsters also played a significant role in the Allies victory. The National Conference of Teamsters was established to help the economic and military crisis the US faced. The group of teamsters collected military supplies and gathered more than $2 million in war bonds during the first year and a half of war. They also served in battle, in almost every branch of armed forces.
Impact Today:
The Teamsters Union continues to have a significant impact on the world today, mostly in Canada and the United States, as it is one of the largest labor unions in the world. In 2005, the Union had 1.5 million members, consisting of mostly truck drivers. The diverse union mainly supports Democratic candidates and since 1990 they have donated about 92% of their $25,000,000 in contributions to the Democratic party. The Teamsters Union continues to have a great contribution to industrialization, transportation and social justices. Recently their main issues have dealt with the fight for fair trade, universal health care, and a stronger middle class. They believe the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing each day, and they hope to bring more and more people into the middle class. The Teamsters Union strives to live out the American Dream, as they continue to attempt to shape many social and economic trends in the world and fight for an equal voice and influence in all working families. They work with the same spirit and determination that their founders had decades ago, and hope this passion remains for the future.